Empowering Your Drama Kings & Queens! The Value of Dramatic Play

1. Empowering Your Drama Kings & Queens! The Value of Dramatic Play April 13, 2013 DVAEYC Dr. Donna R. Sanderson West Chester University

2. Library of Love is open for business

3. Dramatic Play allows children to: • Become representers of their experiences and to create new imaginative realities. • Dramatic play activity has been linked to social, emotional, cognitive, and physical growth. Caroline holding a library card.

4. Development of Dramatic Play • Children’s dramatic play ability is enhanced as their development allows them to use symbolic representation to engage in cooperative play with others. • By the age of 3 most children are capable of pretending with imaginary objects and events even when props are not present. • As children become preschoolers dramatic play becomes a cooperative activity where players work together to carry out a predetermined theme. This is called…..socio-dramatic play.

5. Development of Socio-Dramatic Play • For play to be considered socio-dramatic several components must be present. The child must: • A) engage in role playing (pretends to be another person, object or animal) • B) make believe with actions and objects • C) have verbal and social interactions with at least one other person to coordinate roles and plots • D) have a play theme that lasts more than 5 minutes

6. How the Dramatic Play Center Enhances Children’s Development Welcome to the Library Of Love!

7. Literacy Development • Socio-dramatic play is an especially powerful medium for supporting literacy development. • Play promotes oral language as children become “storytellers of pretend events.” (Brown, et al, 2001). • During socio-dramatic play children must negotiate play scripts and roles with peers, determine the meaning of props, act out the roles using different voices, inflections and rich verbal exchanges. • Dramatic play is important for reading & writing development, children must understand that the written word is a symbolic representation of an object or idea.

8. Literacy Development This enriched environment allows children to practice writing and reading in an authentic, highly motivating context.

9. Reading & writing in an authentic context List of specialty books with corresponding numbers housed behind the main desk. Young Adult Section 3

10. Writing in an authentic context Uh oh, you get fined for a late book!! These librarians are hard core!

11. Writing in an authentic context

12. Self-Regulation & Cognitive Development • Dramatic play is the ideal play arena for learning self-regulation because it is a highly motivating activity to practice rule bound behavior. • The imaginary situation helps children separate their thoughts and behaviors from what is going on around them and to use their internal ideas to guide their behavior. • Cognitive skills that are enhanced can be: using spatial awareness, classification, fractions, sorting, grouping, patterns, geometric awareness, etc…. • Dramatic play leads to advanced play meaning greater intellectual competence, creativity and problem-solving. Likewise, art and writing is also a way children represent their knowledge.

13. Ordering, sorting and classifying the library Sorting and organizing books into sections. Music section & children’s section.

14. Ordering, sorting and classifying the library Specialty books behind the desk. Cooking Section

15. Technological development in the library!

16. Social Development • Dramatic play allows children to practice social skills and to “gain culturally valued competencies.” • Research had documented that children participate in more complex social interactions in socio-dramatic play than in other centers in the classroom. • Children learn to negotiate roles, take turns, resolve interpersonal relationships. Through their negotiations and discussions they begin to understand their own and other’s family and cultural beliefs, practices and values. • During dramatic play children also take on the roles of others, allowing them to gain an understanding of the role, experiences another’s perspective, develop empathy, and engage in rehearsal for life.

17. Social Development: Practicing social skills by taking on the roles of the librarian The librarian assistant telling me about a book. Your friendly neighborhood librarian.

18. Emotional Development • Dramatic play can act as a cathartic release (a way to discharge emotion). • It allows for children to act out fears and traumatic events in a safe environment. • Through play children have the power to change the endings if they wish. • Children can practice solving dilemmas and use play as a dorm of communication.

19. Dramatic Play; Tips for using Prop Boxes • Computer boxes work great – label them • Not all prop items/ideas are appropriate for all ages – consider safety first • Rotate the boxes frequently and you will prevent boredom (and behavioral problems due to boredom) • Parents are great resources for prop box item donations • Do not allow stereotyping based on sex. All children should be allowed to explore any “role” they choose. • View dramatic play and prop box enrichments as opportunities to build upon skills and learn concepts

20. Prop Box Ideas: Get CREATIVE • the beach, flower shop, restaurant, hospital, doctor/dentist office, veterinarian, fire fighter, police station, dry cleaners, ice cream parlor, bakery, plumber, tourist/vacationer, post office, library, fishing boat, camping, house painter, astronaut, optometrist, shoe store, jewelry store, wedding, hair salon, gas station, office worker, grocery store, car wash, school, pizza parlor, bank, movie theater, etc……………

21. Most of all remember, Play based activities can be fun As well as highly educational!